WEST SPRINGFIELD – Revenge may be one of television’s biggest new hits, but it also played a starring role in one of the biggest sagas that Western Massachusetts high school hockey has to offer.
Longmeadow avenged last season’s Division 3 championship loss to Westfield, defeating the Bombers 5-2 Thursday in a season opener at the Olympia Ice Arena in West Springfield.
Senior forward Joe Stasiowski paved the way for Longmeadow with two goals and one assist. He had a hand in each of the Lancers’ first three goals.
“We’ve been talking about remembering last year,” Stasiowski said. “We were pumped to get out there. …We were really focused.”
Longmeadow was firing on all cylinders from the opening face-off, at times even appearing to be in midseason form.
Stasiowski took a pass from Conor McCarthy in close and slipped a shot through Westfield junior goalie Nick Liberto’s legs to take a 1-0 lead 5:00 into the first period.
The Bombers committed their first penalty, on a tripping call, with 6:10 remaining in the period and it proved to be costly.
Longmeadow quickly capitalized, scoring on Brett Rabideau’s power play goal 20 seconds later. Stasiowski assisted on the play.
Stasiowski added another power play goal for Longmeadow in the opening minutes of the second period. The senior forward hauled in a centering pass within the crease from Glenn LaFountain, and squeezed it in between the goalie and the post for a 3-0 lead.
While Longmeadow took advantage of every mistake by the opposition, Westfield went 0-for-2 in power play chances to begin the game. But when shorthanded a short time later, the Bombers scored when Kyle Levere found Craig Lacey streaking up the ice. Lacey flipped the puck past senior goalie Tommy McCarthy (17 saves) with 5:32 left in the second period.
Rabideau scored an insurance goal in the final seconds of the period.
Charlie Kelleher added a third period goal for Longmeadow. Westfield’s Robbie Cagliostro tallied a goal in the waning minutes of the game.
Liberto finished with 11 saves.
“We played terrible,” Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said. “We didn’t execute anything like we did in our last two scrimmages (against Avon and Fermi) and practice. Maybe (our players) thought they could step on the ice and win the game. Now they see that is not going to work.”
“The first 8-10 minutes of the game, we played Bomber hockey. Then the team just went south.”
If the Bombers are seeking a pleasant holiday season, they may want to start skating north.
Longmeadow’s Brett Rabideau, foreground, and Westfield’s Brandon Miemiec collide on the ice during the second period of last night’s game at the Olympia Ice Arena. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Longmeadow’s Charlie Kelleher, left, controls the puck as Westfield forward Kyle Levere moves in. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Westfield’s Nick Sibilia, foreground, battles Longmeadow junior forward Owen Kelleher during last night’s game in West Springfield. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Longmeadow’s Ben Aronson, left, misses the play against Westfield freshman forward Craig Lacey during last night’s game. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
